The Decorator – Winter 2023-2024

THE

DECORATOR

The official journal of the Painting and Decorating Association • Winter 2023-2024

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Dear Members, As I write my final letter of 2023, I’m just wondering where this year has gone. The last 12 months have flown by and already, the signs of impending Christmas are appearing everywhere. It seems to get earlier each year!

It was good to see Members who attended the National Painting and Decorating Show in Coventry last month. The show this year was very well attended, and we had many visitors both old and new at our stand. Congratulations to those Members who deposited a business card in the ‘hat’ at the PDA stand and won the many wonderful prizes on offer. A huge thanks goes to our loyal Associate Partner sponsors for their ongoing support and generous donations.

Our online AGM took place on 17 November, thank you to those of you who took the time to actively contribute to the voting process. The AGM is always your opportunity to raise any points, suggestions or concerns that have arisen during the year, but if you do have something you wish to raise in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to either call or email me directly to discuss.

Let’s hear more from you in 2024 and don’t be strangers! After all, it’s your Association, so please do engage with it. As it is with most things, you only get out of it, what you put in.

As part of the online AGM, we welcomed a new small SME contactor Member onto the Management Board, namely, Scott Oliver. Congratulations Scott, we look forward to you working with us in the coming months. We now have the requisite number of nine Members representing all sizes of the Association’s Members on the Management Board.

Thank you also to our sole trader Member, Stuart Yates for being the Chairman during the past year.

I hope his second year in office proves to be just as fruitful as the last. The Board, along with myself and the office team will continue to develop and implement the future strategy for the PDA. Looking ahead to 2024, preparations are now well underway for the Premier Trophy Awards and our series of Apprentice events which will take place in spring. Let’s see if we can beat the record of 120 apprentices who took part in a total of seven competitions across the country in 2023.

The Trophy Awards in 2024 has special year ahead, as it celebrates its 35th Anniversary. This will be a testimony to the resounding success of these awards in representing the best our sector.

Application forms need to reach us by 12 January 2024, so if you have a completed piece of work that you feel will fit one of our seven categories, please submit it and let’s see you joining me on stage at Plaisterers’ Hall next year. You can download both Trophy Awards and Apprentice of the Year application forms from our website. Apprentice competition entries must be in by 16 February.

As a final thought, none of us yet know what challenges lie ahead in 2024. The PDA is in great shape, and I am in no doubt that it will remain so. I am confident that there is much to look forward to and grounds for optimism for our industry and our Association. Through working together, we will succeed in meeting the challenges. Let us ensure that when we reach 2024, it sees us all celebrating our Association’s incredible 130th history and anniversary in true style. Without doubt, it certainly does deserve it!

For now, please stay healthy, happy, and safe. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, along with a buoyant and prosperous New Year.

I will look forward to speaking with you all again throughout 2024.

Neil Ogilvie Chief Executive neil@paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk

/TheDecoratorMag @TheDecoratorMag

elsewhere in this issue...

4 Association News 20 Sustainability and the Environment 22 Health and Safety 24 The Gallery 26 Sector News 32 Better Business FAQ with Charlie Budd

32 Case studies 34 Tooltalk with Wayne de Wet 38 Products and services

THE

DECORATOR

/DecoratorMag @decoratormag

Painting & Decorating Association 32 Coton Road, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV11 5TW Telephone: 024 7635 3776 e-mail: info@paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk web: www.paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk Chief Executive Officer Neil Ogilvie neil@paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk

Winter 2023-2024 — Volume 92 No 6

The Decorator is published by Catherine Saint Publicity on behalf of the Painting & Decorating Association

Advertising and Editorial Catherine Saint Publicity Telephone: 07941 590 183 e-mail: catherine@the-decorator.co.uk

PDA Editorial Neil Ogilvie Telephone: 07864 300 688 e-mail: neil@paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk

Artworking and Design empathicVisions Telephone: 07789 725 074 e-mail: info@empathicvisions.co.uk

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those held by the Association. Editorial items in this publication and the statements and opinions expressed thereon are published on the understanding that the author of the contribution is solely responsible for the opinions so expressed. Although every care is taken with advertising, no responsibility can be accepted by the published for their products, services and other matters advertised. The publisher will not be liable for any loss or damage consequential or otherwise occasioned by error, late publication or the failure of an advertisement to appear in any cause whatsoever.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

takeNOTICE

/thePDA tinyurl.com/LinkedInPDA

The latest news and updates about the PDA and wider issues across our industry.

If you have something to contrubite email info@paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk

WELCOME TO THE MANAGEMENT BOARD Self-employed Painting and Decorating Association Member and former P&D lecturer at Bournemouth and Poole College, Scott Oliver, has been duly appointed to the PDA Management Board at the recent online AGM. Scott will represent Category 1-4 companies and brings a wealth of experience to the board, from teaching decorating skills, developing training courses, product testing and even negotiating the hurdles of Government funding.

Scott was a Painting and Decorating lecturer for over twenty years and worked with a variety of equipment and materials. Having set up as a self-employed painter and decorator, he also knows the issues in running a small business. Most recently he has appointed an apprentice so can relate to the world of being an employer and dealing with government funding and accessing gateways to learning.

We wish Scott every success in his new role and hope his skills can bring great success for building the future of our Association.

MERRY CHRISTMAS The PDA Head Office will be closed from 4.00pm on 22 December 2023 and will re-open for business as usual on 8 January 2024.

We would like to wish everyone a great holiday and a happy and healthy 2024.

Neil and the Head Office Team

Winter holidays – England, Wales & Scotland The Working Rule Agreement states that there shall be seven working days taken in conjunction with Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day to give a winter holiday of two calendar weeks.

The Winter Break in 2023 will be from normal finishing time Friday 22 December 2023 to normal starting time Monday 8 January 2024 in accordance with WR. 18.1.

EARLY BIRD MEMBERS PRIZE DRAW! We’re offering all our Members the chance to win one of 51 prizes by simply renewing in full by 28 February. The grand prize this years is a T3 Airless Sprayer (worth over £1,700!), generously donated by our Associate Partner, TriTech Industries.

FARBE 2024 After a five year break, Europe’s leadng trade fair for façade design and interior architecture will return from 23-26 April 2024 at the Cologne Exhibition Centre.

Whether you are a master craftsman or trainee, entrepreneur or manufacturer, builder or trader the new FAF brings all players in the creative finishing trade together. In addition to the traditional target groups of painters and stucco plasterers, the trade fair Is opening up to interior decorators and floor layers.

Cologne is already well-established as the location for FAF. Thanks to its central location with excellent transport links, Cologne Exhibition Centre is easily accessible by car, train, plane and local public transport from lots of cities in Germany and abroad.

If you would like to travel with a group from the PDA contact Yvonne Dominey-Tay on yvonne@paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

YEAR IN REVIEW 2023 HAS BEEN both a successful and proactive year, with all our events and competitions being very well supported. For instance, our two different Apprentice of the Year competitions achieved the highest number of attendees since their inception 26 years ago.

The Trophy Awards Apprentice of the Year saw 65 taking part in the four regional heats culminating in the Grand Finale. Its sister competition, Apprentice Wallpaper Hanger of the Year saw 35 attendees this year, again, a record number since the competition began. It was the first time that we had to host two heats for this one. This truly was a great achievement.

Staying with membership, our team has done a sterling job in recruiting throughout the year, with almost 80 new companies being brought into the Association. Let’s hope we can retain and recruit in 2024, especially since we will be celebrating the Association’s 130th Anniversary.

Member Benefits To add value to the financial outlay of our membership, we are continually seeking new Member benefits.

Discounts ranging from 20-50% are offered from many of our Associate Partners. Our list of partners now stands at well over 60, compared with the 15 we had when I took up my role as CEO in 2010.

One of our most-used benefits is the Markel Law claim line, including legal assistance and business hub.

This compares very favourably with the average cost of a Solicitor being £260 per hour. Don’t forget that the scheme still offers the added benefit of the free 24/7 counselling service.

In a different area, we have collaborated successfully with B&Q since 2017 on their TradePoint card, which guarantees a fixed 10% saving for PDA Members without having to meet a minimum spend threshold of £1,000 as is the case with their standard discount card scheme. Whether buying a single paint brush or a tube of caulk, PDA Members can rest assured they will benefit from 10% discount.

It doesn’t end there, as the discount is on top of any promotion activity B&Q / TradePoint may have ongoing, such as 4-for-3, 3-for-2 and even percentage discount offers, making this a very attractive proposition and a great saving for Members.

Website

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You will have noticed that our website has had another facelift to ensure a simplified journey with easier navigation. Please do check your own individual page and update it. This is your window to future clients, and you can easily upload images of your work, testimonials, and other work-related documents such as your insurance policies. Each profile page has a ‘Request a Quote’ tab allowing your client to email you directly.

As ever, there have been ongoing updates to the website and shop, plus adding the latest news, entry forms,

downloads and information, discounts and offers, managing banners and liaising with Associate Partners.

Partners appear more engaged this year, regularly sending ‘latest news’ for the website, plus promotions and discounts for the fortnightly newsletter and Facebook.

Marketing, PR, and The Decorator Our marketing and media team have intensified our presence on all communication channels over the last year. Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram pages now receive many more views than previously. Additionally, you should receive our comprehensive e-newsletter every two weeks giving you all the latest deals, offers and updates.

Our bimonthly publication, The Decorator, continues to go from strength to strength. It goes out to you in hard copy and as a digital download via our website. We liaise closely with Catherine Saint Publicity to produce these magazines.

Members tell us that they like to see their work in the magazine- so, please submit your projects, stories, and case studies to get them featured within the publication.

It’s your magazine, so please contribute and use it!

I wish to thank Catherine Saint Publicity and Stuart at empathicVisions for all the tremendous work done on this publication. I would also like to thank Ruth at empathicVisions for all the dedicated work she does on our e-newsletters, website and social media channels.

She has produced some excellent material this year.

Our continuing long-standing relationship with Shepherd PR produces three main streams of the PR and Marketing work. I would like to thank Jane Shepherd and all her team for the sterling work they do. These include: • Media engagement via press releases or other written content for trade titles such as P&D News, for national and regional newspapers, including this year, the Sunday Times, web news outlets, and content for use in The Decorator and the PDA web news and newsletters.

• Press releases, brochures and presentations, alongside images, video, social media posts and event support focusing on three key themes: Careers in Colour, Sustainability, Recruitment and Retention.

As a result, the PDA has appeared in regional titles across the UK, trade publications such as P&D News, as well as national newspapers including The Times.

• Articles published: 89 • Number of readers: 1,502,419 • Followers reached through social media: 402,000 • LinkedIn impressions: 116,408 • LinkedIn engagements: 6,050 • Audience growth: 2,174 (129.4% increase) • Video views: 11,341 • Link clicks from LinkedIn posts: 3,410.

Mailchimp, PDA e-Newsletter and e-shots Mailchimp has proved to be a good way to communicate with Members, backed up with Facebook posts. We continue to produce and send fortnightly e-newsletters to PDA Members, which involves collating content, formatting, and design. Extra member emails are produced as and when needed. Voting for the AGM received its highest number of online responses.

E-shots to Members are popular with the PDA Partners. Available slots have been booked up for nearly the whole calendar year, plus extra dates have been added with an average ‘open rate’ of 47.7%.

Social Media For our main Facebook page there are at least two specific posts per week (this can often reach five though) promoting Member benefits, merchandise, events (including training courses), industry news, partner news and offers, plus all relevant information sent from head office.

For our Instagram and second, consumer targeted, Facebook page, there are also two posts per week showcasing PDA Member projects and ‘Why use a PDA Member’ posts to drive traffic to the PDA website and increase public awareness of the PDA. The social media marketing and targeting of a younger demographic, helped to generate the highest number of entrants for all three PDA competitions and events.

Paint Green The PDA’s pioneering new Paint Green scheme has been more than two years in the making and was announced last autumn with the official launch in March.

By taking the Paint Green Pledge you can show your customers that you are: • Prioritising the planet • Working to recycle more and reduce waste.

• Going the extra mile to support sustainability schemes and community projects.

Education & Training Committee The committee has met three times this year and remains well represented by large, medium, and micro employers, with a core group of 10 attendees. These include representation on the City & Guilds Employer Engagement Board, Association of Painting Craft Teachers, CITB, WorldSkills, the Institute for Apprenticeships and continued engagement alongside Ann Cook with our European partners, UNIEP. Committee members represented in these groups provide a rich source of information for Members to discuss and act on in the Education and Training Committee meetings, plus representation on several other boards and committees are instrumental in enhancing training, apprenticeships, and qualifications within the Painting and Decorating sector. This shared knowledge proves useful during meetings.

ASSOCIATION NEWS

2023 A high volume of work has been done this year between the committee and the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. The committee currently acts in the capacity of being a ‘vehicle’ for the Painting and Decorating Trailblazer.

Nicola Jordan, Approvals Manager has regularly engaged in committee meetings and following the recent sign off the L2 standard which providers across England have been delivering since the start of the new 2023 academic year, committee members have been working hard on the development of the L3 Painting & Decorating standard. This has also involved several extraordinary meetings throughout the course of the year which members have actively engaged with.

The Skills, Knowledge, and Behaviors for the L3 standard have now been agreed and work is continuing on the content of the End Point Assessment. This is intended to be ready for Department for Education approval and sign off by January 2024 with delivery commencing thereafter.

The Education and Training Committee is well positioned within the sector and is at the forefront of discussions around industry training and qualifications.

Through its membership, it continues to provide knowledge and industry experience to third party organisations ensuring that our sector is well represented.

We continue to work alongside our European Association, UNIEP, on various industry and training related projects.

Painting Skills Academy project From December 2019 to June 2023, the PDA has been one of 23 Partners from 11 European countries working on a project to develop a European Centre for the Painting Sector, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme.

The Painting Skills Academy is a vehicle to support young people to have a varied and professional career, and hopefully some of our Apprentice competitors will be inspired by the opportunity the PSA offers with high-quality training and potential for customised placements in Europe. It is therefore worthwhile our members investigating what the PSA has to offer them.

Health, Safety & Environment Committee The PDA has signed up to the Lighthouse Club, On the Tools and Andy’s Man Club to promote the importance of mental health awareness within our sector, and the vulnerability and anguish of people who are not sure where to turn to for help.

Along with the free Markel Law 24/7 counselling service, I sincerely hope these partnerships go a long way to support you, the Member, should you find yourself in a difficult and vulnerable position. Help is only a phone call away.

This year, we have also seen the introduction of new regulations in the aftermath of the Grenfell Enquiry with Fire Safety Regulations and Building Safety Regulations mainly focusing on High Rise buildings. This will have

limited effect on Members, but there is a need for contractors to prove their competence under the Building Safety Regulations, like the CDM Regulations 2015.

The HSE has increased its focus on use of appropriate RPE, its face fit testing and the effect of facial hair when wearing masks.

Premier Trophy Awards and Apprentice Competitions Our Trophy Awards event is a tremendous opportunity for painting and decoratoring companies of all sizes to showcase the work they do throughout the year.

This year was outstanding, with over 80 entries submitted in the seven categories. All this year’s winners, including the Apprentice of the Year winners attended the Premier Trophy Awards event in central London on 6 July.

I would like to offer a huge thanks to all the sponsors for supporting this year’s events. We received the highest level of sponsorship since the competition’s inception 34 years ago. Without this ongoing support, this type of event simply wouldn’t happen.

The winners of the Apprentice Wallpaper Hanger of the Year picked up their prizes at our national networking event at the magnificent Principal Hotel in York in midOctober. I wish to thank Glen Galbraith and his team at Doncaster college for hosting both events. Thanks goes to Brewers Decorators Centres for once again, being sole sponsor.

Conclusion Finally, I would like to say a few words of thanks: • To my wonderful hard-working team at headquarters. Denice, Yvonne, Sam, Kerrie. You have all done an amazing job throughout this past year. Thank you for your continued, support, and dedicated commitment. Thanks goes to Stuart Yates for his time spent over the last year as the new Management Board Chairman. I look forward to working alongside him in the ensuing year.

• To the Management Board for their continued support. Congratulations go to Scott Oliver on being newly elected representative for Category 1-4 Members.

• To you, our Members, for your continued loyalty and commitment to the Association. We really do appreciate it.

• To the wider decorating community (including the manufacturers) for showing such resilience. We have all been through a great deal together and should be proud of the way everyone has sustained our industry.

To round up this review, none of us yet knows what challenges lay ahead in 2024. The PDA is still in great shape, and I am confident that there is much to look forward to and real grounds for optimism for our industry, and the Painting and Decorating Association.

By working together, we will succeed in meeting any challenges that lie ahead. For my remaining time left at PDA, both the team and I will continue to offer our best possible support to you and your business. Let’s ensure that 2024 sees us celebrating the Association’s 130th year in style by remaining at the forefront in our sector.

Stay happy, safe, and healthy. I wish you all a very Happy Christmas & Prosperous New Year, and I look forward to speaking with you again during 2024.

Neil Ogilvie Chief Executive Officer

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

PDA HAILS SHOW ‘A GREAT SUCCESS’ PROFESSIONAL DECORATORS ARE looking to a buoyant New Year, with feedback from across the industry signalling a busy order book already up to Spring 2024 and beyond.

Visitors to the Painting and Decorating Association’s stand at the National Painting and Decorating Show shared an optimistic outlook for the sector to Neil Ogilvie and other members of the PDA team at the event.

In a sign of confidence for the year ahead, the PDA reported a significant increase in enquiries and sign-ups compared to previous years at the show.

Neil said, “We had a great show and were really pleased to hear from painters and decorators looking to make the most of their membership in supporting their business.

“The sector appears to be buoyant as a whole, with the majority booked through to Spring 2024. People are deciding to stay where they are rather than move house, so they are renovating, maybe having an extension. As we are a finishing trade and people want to come into their new space and feel excited by it, there will always be demand there for our Members to come in and do that work.”

Displays on the stand included a roll call of the PDA’s latest Associate Partners, with almost 60 manufacturers, product suppliers and service providers now signed up to the scheme, bringing a wealth of opportunities for PDA Members including giveaways, promotions, sponsorship and technical insight.

Paint Green, the PDA’s sustainability initiative was also given the thumbs-up by show delegates. The scheme encourages Members to drive down waste through using existing recycling schemes or finding innovative ways to repurpose excess paint and containers.

Neil added, “The feedback we’ve had from Paint Green Members has been very positive, with clients appreciating their efforts and the logo considered a valuable

asset in demonstrating that they are making an effort to deal with any leftover paint and containers responsibly. Some members said it was making a difference to them winning work, as clients liked to see the fact that they were taking action to be more sustainable.

Finally, one of the strongest points that Members commented on at the show was the value of its trade body in being available at the end of the phone and by email when help is needed.

Neil said, “We are always happy to help – and if it’s something we can’t answer straight away, we have contacts across the industry who will help us get back to members quickly. That support and back-up is invaluable, and it can make all the difference when a member hits a problem and needs the best support to navigate through it.”

The PDA also held a jumbo prize draw event at the show, with a dazzling array of prizes donated by Mirka, Graco, Wagner, Tesa, Johnstone’s Trade, Coral Tools, Purdy, Ciret and TradePoint. Qualifying decorators who became PDA Members at the show were also able to visit Premier Paint Rollers and claim a free welcome gift.

Winners of the Painters Win Prizes jumbo draw event included: Lee Bunyard: Mirka Orbital Sander | Andrew Bankier: Graco Spray Unit | Stuart Yates: Wagner Spray Unit Michelino Difelice: tesa bundle | Paul Allies and Martin Webb: Coral Tools bundles Phil Beckwith and Bryan Dennett: Purdy Brush sets | Dave Lee: Ciret bundle Thomas Lomax, Garry Marsh, John McBride, and Jonathan Graham: Johnstone’s Decorating Centres £50 voucher Daren Robinson, Ian Parsloe, and Richard Hindley: Trade Point £50 vouchers.

SUPER SAVINGS FOR PDA MEMBER

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RECENTLY, PDA MEMBER Anthony Wade, a sole trader operating as Sprayform Painting & Decorating Ltd, faced a hefty Public Liability insurance renewal quote of £496.

Needing a better deal, Anthony contacted the PDA for assistance. Head Office directed him to our Associate Partner Superscript, a trusted insurance provider offering flexible, customisable business insurance. Within just 10 minutes, Anthony received a quote of £84 including the 20% discount that PDA Members receive.

The £412 saving that Anthony made will more than pay for his annual PDA membership!

The PDA is delighted to share this success story that highlights our commitment to supporting our valued Members. Anthony said, “As a sole trader decorator [Limited Company], I was a recently taken back at a

renewal quote I received for Public Liability insurance.

I needed an alternative like for like quote.

“As a Member of the PDA, I called them hoping they could help with my enquiry. I was advised to contact the insurance company Superscript.

“Big thanks to PDA staff who were very helpful. I am so happy I called them, the saving I made will pay for my PDA membership twice over.”

See how much Superscript can save you at https://tinyurl.com/pda-apss

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For further information or to arrange a demonstration, please contact Customer Services on 01908 866100.

Dedicated to the finish.

See it in action at www.mirka.co.uk

ASSOCIATION NEWS

NEW INTO WORK GRANT CITB NOW PAYS grants for completed work experience for an individual on an approved further education course, where the work experience started on or after 1 September 2023, and then subsequent grant for three-months completed direct employment.

This grant supports work experience on the further education construction courses listed below, where the work experience forms a clear element of the course: • T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction • T Level in Onsite Construction • Any Diploma level 2 or 3 listed here You can apply if you’re a CITB Registered employer and up to date with your Levy Returns, as well as adhering to the Grants Scheme policy and specific requirements for this grant.

You can apply for the work experience element of this grant for further education learners where the work experience starts on or after 1 September 2023, and then the employment element once they have been directly employed staff on the payroll for three months.

Grant for three-months direct employment is only available where the individual has previously completed eligible work experience, with the same employer, while on an approved further education course.

The work experience timeframe is determined by training provider but must last a minimum of 1 week or 30 hours to be eligible for this grant.

Full details, including eligible Diploma courses are available at https://tinyurl.com/CITBGrants

ROADMAP TO NET ZERO IN NOVEMBER, THE British Coatings Federation (BCF) launched its Net Zero Roadmap, outlining how the coatings sector will reach Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050, with a 38 per cent reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030. The roadmap also illustrates how the industry, which contributes £4 billion a year to the UK economy and employs 14,000 people, will play a major role in enabling the UK to achieve its national legislated Net Zero target.

The roadmap lays out how the BCF and its members aim to reach Net Zero, with projected reductions in scope 1 and 2 emissions of 53 per cent by 2035 and 69 per cent by 2040 as waypoints to measure progress against.

It goes on to detail four things that need to happen if the overall target is to be met: • Increased energy efficiency, including greater use of renewable energy and the development of low-carbon hydrogen.

• Improved resource efficiency, such as the development of new products and technologies including greater uptake of biobased raw materials.

• The development of carbon capture, utilisation and storage networks.

• Intensive supply chain collaboration and engagement, seeking to reduce scope 3 emissions.

Some of these will require actions from Government, and a list of seven recommendations are included at the end of the report. Among them are the need for a secure environment for businesses to invest in sustainable infrastructure, clarity and certainty of energy policy in the longer term, and support for SMEs in their journey to reach Net Zero.

Together, the roadmap represents a significant step for an industry whose products are important in the drive for a more sustainable economy. It sets out practical steps that the BCF’s more than 140 members can start taking now to reduce their carbon emissions and highlights key actions manufacturers can take at every stage of the value chain to reach Net Zero.

The Net Zero Roadmap and Quick Start Guide are online at https://coatings.org.uk/page/NetZeroRoadmap

BAGNALLS GO PLATINUM

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NATIONAL DECORATING CONTRACTOR Bagnalls has been awarded Platinum-accredited membership via The 5% Club’s 2023-24 Employer Audit Scheme. This prestigious award recognises the PDA Member firms’ continued commitment to employee development through ‘earn and learn’ initiatives, such as apprenticeships, graduate schemes and sponsored student course placements.

This membership level can only be achieved by a company that maintains its Gold membership for at least three consecutive years and has at least 10% of its current employees ‘earning and learning’. Bagnalls achieved these qualifications due to their fantastic apprenticeship scheme that helps young talent gain access to the industry.

From an original list of 180, Bagnalls is one of only 30 employers to achieve the Platinum standard, placing the painting and decorating contractor in the top 3% of members.

Bagnalls’ HR Director, Ellie Jobes comments, “The company is proud of our investment in our staff, our Bagnalls family!

We love to help our colleagues succeed and develop within their professional roles and we enjoy watching our apprentices

gain further understanding as they enter our fantastic painting and decorating industry. This is why our Platinum membership with The 5% Club means so much to us.”

The 5% Club represents over 1.6 million employees, and the Employer Audit Scheme validates employer activities, explores plans for future development and further training, as well as examining a company’s approach to quality, social mobility, diversity and inclusion.

The 5% Club’s Chief Executive, Mark Cameron OBE, also commented, “It is fantastic that so many employers are able to commit to the Employer Audit during these challenging times.

Their efforts and achievements are to be applauded. Even more impressive is the 3% who have achieved Platinum level membership, they represent the very best of our movement and of those employers offering ‘earn and learn’ opportunities.”

This achievement has further confirmed Bagnalls’ status as a caring and development-focused employer that affords young, talented apprentices and graduates the opportunities required to launch successful careers within the painting and decorating industry. www.bagnalls.co.uk

ASSOCIATION NEWS

ADVICE for our Members DATA PROTECTION PART ONE For all businesses, of any size, data protection is a very dry subject and can cause a rising sense of panic when it raises its ugly head. We are going to take you through the basic principles you should be aware of... Look out for Part Two in our Spring issue.

GETTING DATA PROTECTION wrong can lead you to being reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the data regulator, who can levy fines depending on what exactly you’ve done wrong.

It’s also possible to be sued in the courts for data breaches and have compensation awarded against you for losses suffered by the ‘victim’ and it can include damages for stress etc. The law is contained in the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation, more commonly known as GDPR and it applies to all types of businesses, large and small.

In a nutshell, you’re expected to be clear about why you’re collecting and holding someone’s personal data, so they understand why you’ve got it and what you’re going to do with it, that you have a lawful ground for processing it, that its accurate and you won’t keep it for longer than is necessary.

There’s no specific timescale for how long you should keep personal data, but as a rough guide, where contracts are involved, six years can be a useful benchmark because this is the relevant limitation period, and once this period is up, generally you can’t be pursued for breach of contract.

What is personal data?

The first thing you need to do is identify what is personal data is and how it’s defined. Personal data only includes information relating to living persons who:

Processing ordinary personal data will only be lawful if one of the six grounds below applies:

• can be identified or who are identifiable, directly from the information in question; or

• consent

• who can be indirectly identified from that information in combination with other information.

• legitimate interests

What identifies an individual could be as simple as a name, an address or a number or could include other identifiers such as an IP address or a cookie identifier, or other factors.

If it’s possible to identify an individual directly or indirectly from the data you have, then these details will be personal data. Data subjects can include employees, customers, clients, and suppliers if they’re sole traders.

Do you process personal data?

The legislation only applies if you actually process personal data. So, this begs the question, what exactly does processing personal data actually involve?

The answer is relatively simple. It basically includes anything that you do with someone’s personal data, from collecting it, storing it, sharing it, so it’s very wide-ranging.

Once you’ve established that you hold personal data and process it, you’re then required to follow strict rules called ‘data protection principles’. You must make sure personal data is: • used fairly, lawfully and transparently • used for specified, explicit purposes • used in a way that is adequate, relevant and limited to only what is necessary • accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date • kept for no longer than is necessary

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Do you have a lawful basis?

• handled in a way that ensures appropriate security, including protection against unlawful or unauthorised processing, access, loss, destruction or damage.

• contract

• vital interests • legal requirement • public interest You must always determine your lawful basis before you begin processing anyone’s personal data, and you should document it. The usual grounds which you’ll probably use more than others are: consent, contractual arrangements (where you use it to enter into or perform a contract) and legitimate interests (where the processing is necessary for your legitimate interests except where the interests of the data subject override yours).

When it comes to consent, this must be unambiguous, specific, be given freely, and can be withdrawn at any time. There’s no prescribed way of getting consent, but various methods of doing so include: • Selecting an opt-in box • having a yes/no option • responding to an email requesting consent

To access the Law Hub where PDA Members will find additional practical DIY templates and guidance around topics such as employment and health and safety law, get a token code from the PDA office and sign up for free on

www.markellaw.co.uk/registration If there’s no contract being entered into, it will be tempting to rely on legitimate interests where there is no other appropriate ground for processing, but it’s important that you don’t act hastily.

Step 1: Do I Have a Legitimate Interest for Processing This Personal Data?

Step 2: Is the Processing Necessary for This Purpose?

Step 3: Do Individuals’ Interests and Rights Override Your Legitimate Interests?

Is a Privacy Notice a good idea?

A privacy notice or policy informs your data subjects who you are, what you do with their data, your grounds for processing their data, if you share it and who to contact if there’s a problem. It’s a very good way of showing that you care and that you are transparent in terms of what you do with data, and it’s strongly recommended. These don’t need to be written by a lawyer, should be in plain English, and flagged up in a prominent position covering: • Types of personal data you collect • Where you get people’s data from • Why you have people’s data and what you do with it • Your lawful basis for processing their data e.g. contract, legitimate interests etc • Who you share the data with • How long you’ll keep their data for • The identity and contact details of the data controller • An outline of the data subject rights under GDPR

Do you have to register with the ICO? The answer is that it all depends on what you do with personal data. The simple way to find out if you do or not have to register is to go to https://ico.org.uk and use the registration self-assessment tool. It’s an offence not to register if you should, and the ICO can issue a monetary penalty of up to £4,000.

ASSOCIATION NEWS

HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR SELF-ASSESSMENT It’s an all too familiar scene for many sole traders, despite leaving it until a week or two before the online-filing deadline on 31 January, you’re not too worried about completing your self-assessment tax return. After all, what could possibly go wrong?

You forgot that, as with many things in life, sound preparation is key to successfully completing your Self Assessment tax return. GoSimpleTax has put together some great suggestions to avoid any last minute panic, and ensure that the whole process goes as quickly and easily as possible...

Decide how you’re going to file HMRC wants to phase out paper Self Assessment tax returns as much as possible, preferring for taxpayers to keep digital tax records and file their tax returns online.

Filling in and filing your Self Assessment tax return online is quicker and easier, with mistakes less likely, especially if you use Self Assessment tax return-filing software. Automatic prompts tell you which figures you need to enter and where, which provides additional peace of mind and may even help to ensure that you don’t pay too much tax.

Know what supplementary pages you need to submit

Get together other vital information When filling in your Self Assessment tax return other information you need can include: • an accurate summary of taxable income from self-employment, renting out property or land, overseas income taxable in the UK • if relevant, details of any previous loss made that you wish to offset against income made within the tax year to which your tax return refers

As well as the main SA100 tax return, you may have to fill out and submit supplementary pages to report taxable income and tax expenses. Different types of taxable income have different supplementary pages, which each have their own number.

The most common examples include SA103 Self-employment, SA105 UK Property and SA108 Capital Gains Summary. If you have more than one self-employed role that generates taxable income, you’ll need to complete an SA103 for each.

• summary of income earned from employment, as well as taxable benefits (you may be able to get these from your P60, P45 if you left during the tax year or a P11D form from your employer)

Need to know!

Supplementary pages can be downloaded from government website GOV.UK or conveniently accessed via Self Assessment filing software.

• any taxable state benefits you’ve received, as well as any taxable pension payments

Make sure that you know your UTR

• information about any Gift Aid received (you can claim tax back for this)

In your SA100, you’ll need to include your 10-digit UTR (ie Unique Taxpayer Reference), which you’re given when you register for Self Assessment. It will be stated on your previous tax return, if you’ve submitted one. You’ll also need to state your National Insurance number.

Need to know!

If you can’t find your UTR, you can also call HMRC on 0300 200 3310 for assistance.

You’ll need to have some information to hand for security questions, such as your personal details and your National Insurance number.

• details of taxable interest received from your bank as well as any taxable share dividend payments • details of any income you’ve received as part of a business partnership (one partner should also file a tax return and SA104 supplementary page for the partnership)

• details of any taxable capital gains you’ve received after disposing of assets (eg a business, personal possessions worth £6,000 or more, etc)

Need to know!

The above information should be relevant only to the tax year in which you are reporting taxable income to HMRC.

Get your expenses in order You’ll also need summaries of your ‘allowable expenses’, which are costs that you can claim as tax expenses that relate to income from self-employment, renting out property, overseas income, a business partnership, etc.

Claiming allowable expenses will reduce your tax bill. If you’ve been organised and you’ve been recording your allowable expenses throughout the tax year in a spreadsheet or accounting software, this will be simple to do. If not, having to wade through piles of sales receipts, invoices and bank/credit card statements could take a while, which is another reason why you should complete your tax return long before the filing deadline.

Need to know!

Record your costs into a spreadsheet or accounting software regularly, so that claiming them as expenses becomes much less time-consuming, while also giving you a better idea of your spending and expenses.

Which allowances you can claim?

Personal tax allowances are amounts you can earn or receive in income without paying tax. The main UK personal tax allowances are available to sole traders and landlords, while others are available only in certain circumstances. HMRC won’t tell you if you can claim a personal tax allowance, you must find out for yourself if you plan to fill out your own Self Assessment tax return.

The most common personal tax allowances are:

Don’t wait – file now!

Getting your Self Assessment tax return completed and filed as soon as possible is highly recommended. You can file any time after the end of the tax year (5 April) in which you received taxable income, there really is no need to leave it until weeks, days or hours before the online-filing deadline (midnight on 31 January).

Filing early doesn’t mean you’ll have to pay your tax bill sooner, but you will be able to find out how much tax you owe. You may even find out that you’re due a tax rebate.

Getting your Self Assessment tax return out of the way earlier could certainly make your life much less stressful.

GoSimple offer digital income, expenses and tax submission all in one. Recommended by the PDA and LAMD.

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Log into the Member’s area of the PDA website and navigate to Tax Advice for a special link to GoSimpleTax!

14

15

ASSOCIATION NEWS

SHOULD YOU TAKE A SALARY OR DIVIDENDS? FOR SOME TIME, it has generally been the case that dividends have offered company owners and directors a cost effective and flexible remuneration option compared to a bonus or salary. Many have paid themselves a minimal salary (up to the general threshold for NICs) and then rely on dividends for the balance of their income.

However, the gap has narrowed in the past few years with the introduction of dividend tax, reduction of the dividend allowance and now the recent Corporation Tax rise from 19% flat rate to an upper rate of 25%.

For further information contact Azets at hello@azets.co.uk and one of their local team will get back to you promptly.

Dividends

Is there a clear cut answer?

The ability to pay dividends relies upon the company earning profit after tax in excess of the amount of dividends to be paid. Dividends are not subject to National Insurance Contributions (NICs), however the basic dividend rate of income tax is 8.75%. (higher rate is 33.75% and additional rate is 39.35%).

Dividends, however, do not reduce a company’s Corporation Tax bill as they are paid out of the company profits after tax.

Simply, every individual’s personal and business circumstances are different. If you add into this the tax changes coming into play in this new tax year, there are a number of influencing factors:

Bonus/salary It can also be beneficial to receive pay via bonus/salary as this allows the individual to build qualifying years towards their state pension, and to make higher pension contributions if they wish to do so.

From a business perspective, the amount of corporation tax which the company pays would be reduced compared to receiving pay via dividends. Unlike dividends, however, there will be NICs due from both the individual and the company, and a higher rate of income tax will be payable by the individual. The business will be able to claim corporation tax relief on the NICs and bonus/salary it has paid, so it can deduct both when calculating profits, which are subject to corporation tax.

• Corporation Tax - Increased from flat 19% rate on all taxable profits to 19% on taxable profits up to £50,000 and 25% for taxable profits over £250,000 • Marginal Corporation Tax rate - Effective rate of 26.5% on taxable profits falling between £50,000 and £250,000 • Income Tax • Tax-free Dividend Allowance cut by 50% to £1,000 • Additional (45%/47%) Rate threshold cut from £150,000 to £125,140 • Personal Allowances frozen The most effective remuneration plan will also be affected by ancillary matters such as age (no National Insurance for those over 65), pension contributions, salary sacrifice arrangements and benefits in kind.

If you haven’t reviewed your remuneration recently we urge you to do so now to make sure you have the right plan for your circumstances.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS Apprentice Paperhanger Award Winners; Back row left to right – Katie Sanders (Junior Winner), Harry Davies (Senior Winner), Blair Morrison (Junior Runner-up), Holly Duffy (CEO Recognition Award), Izzy Horler-Rhymes (Third Junior); Front row left to right– Euan McLean (Senior Runner-up), Sam Farnworth (Third Senior).

SEVEN APPRENTICES WERE recently presented with awards for their Paperhanging skills at the PDA Gala Dinner, held at The Principal Hotel in York. The annual event is a chance for PDA Members to get together, network, and also have a well earned night away from it all with fine food, music and dancing.

The Apprentice Paperhanger of the Year competition was held over two days this year to accommodate demand, with 35 apprentices from 13 colleges battling it out at Doncaster College.

Competitors in the senior and junior sections were set a challenging six-hour task designed to test their precision, skill and stamina. The work was then judged by the PDA Management Board Chair, Stuart Yates, and Chief Executive Neil Ogilvie, who also presented the awards at the Gala Dinner event along with David Hope, National Sales and Development Manager at competition sponsor Brewers Decorator Centres.

Neil said, “The quality of work presented by the apprentices was impressive, with the competitors separated by as little as half a point in some cases.

“Completing a set design under a significant time pressure is no easy feat, and our Apprentice Paperhanger Competition demonstrates the talent and skills acquired by people starting their careers in colour.”

The winner of the Senior category was Harry Davies, who studies at Leeds College of Building, as is on an apprenticeship with LDC Decorating Company.

Runner-up was Euan McLean of University Highlands & Islands and Henderson Decorators Ltd. With third place going to Sam Farnworth who works for Brian Lees and studying at Accrington & Rossendale College.

First place in the Junior category was awarded to Katie Sanders, studying at Leeds College of Building and an apprentice with Alfred Bagnall & Sons Ltd. Blair Morrison of Cameron Painters and Decorators and University Highlands & Islands took the

Runner-up spot, with Ian Williams Ltd apprentice Izzy Horler-Rhymes taking third.

A new addition this year was the Neil Ogilvie Recognition & Achievement Award, which went to Holly Duffy from Accrington & Rossendale College and Spain Building & Maintenance Ltd. The Gala event also saw Samuel Davies made an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Painting and Decorating Association, having served as Regional President for the North East on multiple occasions, and National President of the PDA in 2013/14.

Sammy took his first job in painting and decorating at the age of just 15, Neil Ogilvie said, “After more than 60 years of stalwart service and Membership of the PDA, it was my pleasure and privilege to present this accolade.

“Sammy embodies the spirit of the PDA, which is about working collectively to demonstrate the professionalism and skill within the craft and provide quality work at a reasonable price.”

Samuel Davies receives his Honorary Lifetime Membership from Bob Smith, Neil Ogilvie and Nigel Deamer (right).

See more photos from the night of celebration on the PDA website at https://tinyurl.com/pda-net

18

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ENVIRONMENT A trial of the new 170 litre reusable containers took place at The Morello Apartments in Croydon.

NEW SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING PILOT IN AN ERA where waste reduction and sustainability are increasingly prioritised by customers and contractors alike, new and innovative solutions are required.

Recognising this, AkzoNobel is piloting bulk packaging to limit the number of paint cans used for larger projects and reduce subsequent waste.

As a Dulux Contract Partner, PDA Members A.C. Beck & Son have been trialling the new packaging solution for their work at The Morello Apartments in Croydon. The team were called in by principal contractor, Sir Robert McAlpine, to decorate 456 new build apartments, spread over three tower blocks. The team started the programme of works in August 2022 and are due to complete by the end of 2023.

Steve Beck, Managing Director at A.C. Beck & Son, said, “Improving sustainability is high on our business’ agenda and continued innovation from manufacturers like AkzoNobel is needed to ensure we can minimise our impact, and that of the wider painting and decorating community, as much as possible.

“We are proud to be working with AkzoNobel and trialling its latest sustainability solution, bulk packaging.

It is so important for those in the trade to be part of the process and test what will, and won’t, deliver the desired results and move the sustainability dial. I am a real

advocate for its use and have seen the positive impact it has on waste reduction across our projects.”

the 10 litre packs. Each container is cleaned and refilled, so no packaging goes to waste.”

What is bulk packaging?

Product in practice: The Morello Apartments

For large projects, the conventional practice of packaging paint in individual 10 litre containers can result in a significant amount of plastic waste, especially if the cans are not recycled. With waste reduction targets becoming increasingly common across the industry, AkzoNobel recognised the need to find a more sustainable alternative. It is currently trialling bulk 170 litre reusable containers to provide customers with the paint they need in more sustainable packaging.

A selection of Dulux Trade paints, including Fast Matt in White and Supermatt in White and Almond White, are now available in the large format reusable containers.

These are ideal for large new or retrofit projects spanning a wide range of sectors, including housing, education, healthcare and commercial premises.

Duncan Lochhead, Commercial Sustainability Manager at Dulux Decorator Centre, said, “The sustainability benefits of using the bulk containers improves the more they are used. If they are used twice or more, the bulk units become a more sustainable packing solution than

To see the bulk packaging in action, watch the video at https://youtu.be/Z2fmNKZIC7k

For more information on Dulux Decorator Centre’s sustainability solutions, visit:

www.duluxdecoratorcentre.co.uk/our-sustainability-story 20

Speaking on the company’s work at The Morello Apartments in Croydon, Luke Beck, Director at A.C. Beck & Son, said, “We specified Dulux Trade Fast Matt for several reasons, but its ability to be supplied in bulk was a significant draw. The project is working to the BREEAM sustainable buildings framework, and selecting Dulux Trade as our paint manufacturer for the project was key to supporting us with meeting sustainability targets.”

Luke added, “It has been a seamless transition over to bulk packaging. We’ve had a lot of good feedback from the team regarding the larger containers, they find them easy to use and have effortlessly adapted to the slightly new way of working.”

A.C. Beck & Son has partnered with DDC for many years, benefitting from the team’s technical support at every stage of a project. They also benefit from a reliable delivery service.

Luke said, “For this project, we have been working to quite tight deadlines and the Dulux Decorator Centre team has shown exceptional service to provide product as we need it.”

AkzoNobel’s bulk packaging pilot is a significant step towards reducing the amount of waste produced by the decorating industry.

Duncan concludes, “It is innovative solutions like bulk packs that are exactly what we need to make positive changes to the footprint and impact of our industry.”

ENVIRONMENT

HAILSHAM DECORATOR SIGNS UP TO PIONEERING GREEN SCHEME ABSOLUTE PAINTING AND Decorating has taken the PDA’s Paint Green Pledge, a commitment to reduce, reuse or recycle excess paint and containers year-on-year.

An estimated 55 million litres of waste paint are generated each year in the UK – and much of it ends up in landfill or being disposed of as hazardous waste. It’s believed that only around two percent of left-over decorative paint is reused or remanufactured.

The PDA’s Paint Green initiative encourages Association Members to commit to reducing waste by taking up existing recycling schemes and recording their efforts.

Alan Jones at Absolute Painting and Decorating said, “I signed up to Paint Green straight away. I’ve been recycling paint containers for around five years and an initiative that encourages others in the industry to do the same is something we really need.

“It’s a really easy decision to make. Recycling containers makes so much more sense than just throwing them into the ground. It’s also usually free, so it’s good for the business and for the environment. We already use mostly water-based paints as well and we’re looking at other ways to be more environmentally friendly.”

PDA Chief Executive Neil Ogilvie said, “Absolute Painting and Decorating was among the first PDA Members to take the Paint Green pledge, placing them at the forefront of the drive towards more sustainable working practices.

“PDA Members are trained, trusted professionals who commit to do a quality job at a reasonable price, and our Paint Green Members are taking extra steps to help protect our planet, so why choose anyone else?”

Find out more about Paint Green at https://tinyurl.com/PDAGreen

Get in touch with Absolute Painting and Decorating at www.absolutepaint.co.uk

DDC UPDATES ITS CAN RECYCLING SERVICE DULUX DECORATOR CENTRE is pleased to announce that customers can now recycle any empty paint can from any brand at their local store, thanks to an update to its can recycling service. This improvement will make recycling paint cans simpler and easier for decorators and contractors, helping them to minimise the amount of waste being sent to landfill and maximise their environmental credentials.

The Dulux Decorator Centre can recycling service, in partnership with Veolia, is a free service for all customers.

You can either drop empty cans off at any of their stores

or arrange for collection if a delivery is being made to site, preventing them from being sent to landfill.

Plastic cans are shredded, washed and sent back to the plastics market, and metal cans are melted into new steel and returned to the general market to create tools and products.

Previously, the service only accepted paint cans from AkzoNobel brands, but with these enhancements, DDC now accepts empty cans from any brand for recycling.

“We know sustainability is of ever-growing importance to not just our customers, but to their clients as well. This

was proven last year when we reached the brilliant milestone of recycling our one millionth can. To achieve our mission of tripling the number of cans we recycle by 2025, we decided to update our service to be able to recycle any branded decorative paint cans,” explains Duncan Lochhead, Commercial Sustainability Manager at Dulux Decorator Centre.

“By enabling paint cans from all brands to be recycled with us, we’re ensuring our customers can make responsible choices at every stage of their project – beginning with choosing our most sustainable paint products, to finally recycling their empty cans with us.

“We also have sustainable ways of dealing with customers’ leftover paint. Customers can donate partially full cans to good causes like Community RePaint, a project sponsored by Dulux for 30 years. This UK wide paint reuse network collects leftover and mis-tinted paint and makes it available to local charities, community groups and low-income families, therefore reducing the amount of paint that is sent to landfill.”

As part of the can recycling service, DDC supports account holders with sustainability reporting, by keeping records of how many cans they have recycled in the year.

Showcasing these figures helps decorators secure and maintain sustainability-minded clientele, by proving their commitment to environmental efficiency.

The new recycling service is now live, for more visit https://www.duluxdecoratorcentre.co.uk/can-recycling

21

HEALTH AND SAFETY

TREADING SAFELY The latest research commissioned by The Ladder Association has again raised serious concerns that unsafe and potentially dangerous ladders continue to be sold via online platforms to unsuspecting consumers in the UK...

The market surveillance study, part of The Ladder Association’s ongoing Step Up to Safe Ladders campaign, found that 70% of the commercially available multipurpose ladders they tested failed to meet the minimum safety requirements designed to keep users safe. Those products that failed include the top three products listed on each of the world’s best-known online retailers, Amazon and eBay. Worryingly, all samples tested that were purchased online from Amazon and eBay as part of this study, failed the safety tests, were non-compliant and were unsafe to use.

Worse still, the research found that all of the failed ladders were advertised as ‘compliant’ with the product standard (EN 131-4), either on the product listing, product packaging or product labelling, in a deliberate attempt to mislead consumers. Further evidence was found that identical substandard products are being sold with different product names, seller names and branding, giving a false impression of greater product variety for consumers.

Online marketplaces have surged in popularity in recent years and are used by 9-in-10 adults who use the internet1. As it stands, online marketplaces selling products supplied by third-party sellers, have no responsibility for preventing unsafe goods being sold on their platforms, and no legal obligation to inform consumers if they have purchased unsafe goods.

With online platforms, sellers are based worldwide. While Trading Standards can investigate and take appropriate enforcement action against UK-based businesses, those operating outside the UK do not exist in current product safety law. The sellers are virtually anonymous, making it almost impossible to hold them to account. The current legal framework gives rogue manufacturers, suppliers and sellers based anywhere in the world, free rein to sell unsafe, and in worst cases deadly, products direct to unsuspecting consumers in the UK without threat of repercussion.

1 2

While there are manufacturers producing ladders that meet the safety standards, the study showed that a significant number of ladders available on the market, and sold by the country’s biggest online platforms, fall well below basic safety requirements.

To be certain they’re as safe as they should be, ladders should be manufactured to comply with product standard EN 131. It was against the most safety critical requirements of this standard that the sample products were tested at the UKAS-accredited independent Test & Research Centre in Soham, UK. Peter Bennett OBE, Executive Director of The Ladder Association, commented, “Making sure consumers are safe is our number one priority and we are committed to raising awareness of potentially harmful ladders. Working at height can be risky enough, without the additional danger of shoddy ladders. Every 11 minutes in the UK, someone attends A&E after sustaining an injury involving a ladder2. A fall from height can cause life changing injury, and in some cases, can even be fatal.

“We are aware of below-standard ladders being sold to unsuspecting consumers, particularly via online platforms, who pass the sole responsibility for product safety to the seller. But, if the seller does not care and has no threat of legal consequence due to being virtually anonymous and based overseas, our current legal framework is allowing people’s lives to be put at risk. This must stop.

“We must stress there are good quality and safe ladders available online and in physical stores, not all multipurpose ladders are unsafe.

However, with increasing price pressure and the ‘Amazon effect’ on consumers and businesses, which puts price and convenience above safety, the market is far from a level playing field.

“The Ladder Association is again calling for urgent action from the UK Government to make regulatory changes to hold online platforms accountable for ensuring

Protecting consumers from unsafe products https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Protecting-consumers-from-unsafe-products.pdf Staying Alive: Preventing Serious Injury and Fatalities while Working at Height: https://workingatheight.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Staying-alive.pdf

the products they sell are compliant and safe to use.

We’re also urging people to take extra care when buying ladders online. Do your research, read the reviews, and when you get it, check the ladder itself along with all instruction manuals and labels. If you think the ladder is unsafe or dangerous don’t use it!”

The Ladder Association is the voice of the industry and promotes the highest standards and competence, while working with major bodies including the Health & Safety Executive. The Association harnesses its own expertise along with that of its member companies to support technical excellence, safety and best practice in the interests of ladder users everywhere. All Ladder Association members are required to make or supply ladders that meet the current product standard.

To find out more information on the ‘Step Up to Safe Ladders’ campaign and to view the full report, visit https://ladderassociation.org.uk/step-up/

A ‘bending test’ being carried out at the Test & Research Centre in Soham.

22

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DRM Decorating Services Ltd Contracted by Ross Logie Architecture, window frames and doors were renovated with two-part and epoxy wood fillers, followed by preservatives and primers. Four top coats of Dulux Trade Weathershield Quick Dry Exterior Satin, should keep things looking tidy for for a good few years.

Michael Graham Decorators Ltd The BASW building in central Birmingham first required hi-spec repairs to the render, in keeping with the age of the building. Everything was then given a Dulux Weathershield System Undercoat, them Gloss to woodwork.

The render was painted with Dulux Trade Weathershield All Seasons Pliolite to prevent water ingression.

Seabright & Co Built in 1760, the team worked on the hall, stairs, landing and morning room.

Farrow & Ball Dead Flat was used throughout in Slipper Satin, Off White, Gold Guilding and Pale Hound.

Wood graining, mottled stone, and antique gold effects were also created on select features.

WANT TO SHOW OFF YOUR HARD WORK? Enter now for free!

For your chance to win £100 of vouchers from Brewers and feature on our front cover, send in your pictures to thegallery@the-decorator.co.uk For use in the magazine and to be considered for the cover, we need high resolution, clear images.

24

lery

On the Cover Borthwick Decorators Ltd www.borthwickdecorators.co.uk

LSB Decorative Painting Skill and precision were required when hanging 24 pre-cut drops of a Gothic mural wallpaper. Correct setting out enabled the pattern to match to on the ceiling and two opposite walls, plus all four internal corners too.

PDM Ltd

The intricate painting of the main ceiling at The Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh, was led by Borthwick’s foreman Kamil, following ornamental plasterers who had carried out repairs. After coating with a Johnstone’s Trade primer, all the colours were matched to existing colours using Johnstone’s Trade Vinyl Matt. Features were then picked out using Polyvine Metallic Paint in Bright Gold.

This hall and staircase was finished with precision using a range of colours from Farrow and Ball including de Nimes, Wimborne White, School House White, Shaded White, and Railings.

Another fantastic job from Borthwick – £100 of vouchers for use at Brewers are now on the way!

25

SECTOR NEWS

P&Dnews CROSS LONDON WALK TO FIGHT CHILD POVERTY

MBE FOR ROBERT PDA MEMBER ROBERT Woodland was invited to Buckingham Palace on 2 November for the Investiture hosted by the Princess Royal where he was awarded the Member of the British Empire, MBE for his services to the Arts and Heritage Crafts.

Robert was joined by his daughter and two granddaughters at the Palace where they thoroughly enjoyed and absorbed this special day.

The Princess Royal inquired about the Palaces and Royal residences that Robert has worked in as well as overseas commissions, along with what he was currently working on.

After the presentation photographs, they returned to Loughton for a celebratory meal.

All at the LAMD and PDA feel this honour is well deserved and long overdue, to a man who is respected by all for his contributions to the craft.

MORE THAN 20 colleagues at Leyland SDM took part in a 15 mile trek to raise money for child poverty charity The Childhood Trust, walking from Mile End to Kingston upon Thames on 19 November.

The intrepid group was made up of colleagues from right across the Leyland SDM business, including sales assistants and head office staff.

They passed through Westminster, Chelsea and Fulham before crossing The Thames at Putney Bridge and progressing through Richmond Park, finishing at Leyland SDM's most southern store in Kingston.

Cliff Rendell, People Director at Leyland SDM said, “Charity and fundraising is a key part of our ethos and we’re proud to have raised more than £120,000 for good causes over the last four years. We really admire The Childhood Trust and wanted to support them, particularly as their valuable work takes place in London, which is where all 33 of our stores are located.

INSPIRING YOUNG READERS

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BREWERS WERE THRILLED to help with a recent project at Swiss Gardens Primary School, turning the school library into a fantastic space for the schoolchildren to be inspired by, donating 50 litres of Albany Vinyl Matt and Durable Matt to completely transform the walls of the library. The library opened its doors to reveal the brand-new space on 2 October with a very special guest, Julia Donaldson CBE, author and playwright of The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom and Stick Man, creating well-loved children’s stories and sparking the imagination of children across the country.

“It was a new way for us to see the capital while raising vital funds, and we enjoyed visiting a number of our stores along the way.”

The Childhood Trust is London's leading child poverty charity. London is one of the richest cities in the world, but the charity says 700,000 children in London live in poverty, the majority of whom are from working families.

Laurence Guinness, Chief Executive of The Childhood Trust said, “Poverty can have devastating effects on children’s health and development. Our most recent research found that the equivalent of 40% of London children are regularly missing meals and going hungry due to the cost-of-living crisis.

“With growing numbers of children falling into poverty we must do all we can to provide support. A huge thanks to the team at Leyland SDM for getting involved by fundraising through this walking challenge across the capital.” https://childhoodtrust.enthuse.com/pf/leylandsdm

Entries close 12 January 2024!

Download the entry form now at

www.paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk

SECTOR NEWS

PSYCHOLOGICALLY INFORMED SPACES BREWERS WERE MORE than happy to be able to support Crisis, the national charity for the homeless, helping people directly out of homelessness and campaigning for the changes needed to solve it altogether.

Crisis welcome everyone who goes to them for support and each person is treated as an individual, with dignity and respect. They’ve helped thousands of people end their homelessness over the years, focusing on the positives – what someone is good at and their interests – rather than what might be holding them back.

Earlier this year Crisis’ flagship service centre, London Skylight, moved to a new building at 50 Commercial Street. Brewers Aldgate store donated painting and decorating materials to the new building that saved the charity £10,000 as a result.

Skylights are where Crisis work directly with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, providing practical one-to-one support to help people access benefits, healthcare services, employment opportunities, and more. The main aim is to relieve the huge pressure of homelessness, by helping people find safe and affordable homes as quickly as possible.

In all, Brewers donated 460 litres of Contract Matt, 20 litres of Albany Super Primer/Undercoat, 55 litres of Albany Super Satin, 400 litres of Albany Acrylic Eggshell, 264 tubes of Brewers Caulks and a range of sundries!

The way a space is decorated makes a world of difference for how safe and comfortable a person feels in it. Crisis had to completely renovate the new Skylight, to create a ‘psychologically informed environment’, meaning that they consciously considered and adapted the physical spaces to empower and support Crisis members (those the charity work with to end their homelessness) so that they can feel they are in a safe place to get the help they need.

Members were involved throughout the renovation and helped to choose the paint colours for the new spaces. Crisis ran interactive focus groups to choose the decorations, during which members spoke about how they had felt when they took their first steps through the Skylight doors.

Philanthropy Manager, Lizzie Tees said, “It has been a joy to work closely with Brewers this year to bring our new Skylight to life. Brewers generously donated all the paint we needed to help make our new home a place where our members will feel safe and welcomed, where they can focus on their journey out of homelessness.

“Brewers’ donation allowed us to save more than £10,000, and because of this we could purchase panic alarms for our meeting rooms, which are vital for keeping everyone in our Skylight comfortable and safe. My gratitude to the Brewer family and all those at Brewers Decorator Centres cannot be overstated, it has been a privilege to have them stand side by side with us in our mission to end homelessness.”

Find out more about the incredible work Crisis carry out at www.crisis.org.uk

BRADITE ONE CAN AIDS STREET TRANSFORMATION A QUIET RESIDENTIAL street in Portsmouth has received a makeover thanks to local volunteers supported by, amongst others, Bradite paints.

Members of the local Goodgym, an organisation that combines keeping fit with practical help for the community, descended on Percy Street, Southsea, with plants, pots, recycled timber and bags of enthusiasm.

The timber was used to build six large wooden planters for window sills and they were painted green, of course, using One Can supplied by Bradite. The company supplied eight 2.5litre tins of One Can Eggshell in a range of RAL greens.

Organiser Julie Blake explains, “So far, we have painted the window boxes and one large door which is primed

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for the creation of a mural (using the remaining paint) in the Spring by a member of local street art gallery The Corner Collective.”

More residents have asked for planters and other streets have now expressed their interest in the greening initiative.

“We were so grateful for the support of Bradite and especially glad that the One Can paint performed so well and dried quickly with no need to prime!” adds Julie, “We had over 20 volunteers painting to complete the project in less than three hours.”

Other organisations that supported the Percy Street project include Natural England and Portsmouth City Council. www.bradite.com

BETTER BUSINESS

I don’t know anyone who gets it totally right when it comes to spending their time how they’d like to.

But I’ve learned quite a few useful things over the years...

Time well spent As we come up to the Christmas break and start considering the next year, it’s a great opportunity to think about our greatest asset - the only one we can’t get back - time.

Time spent at work. Time spent on your business. Time spent with family and friends.

Time spent on leisure. Time spent on social media. Time spent on chores. Time spent faffing.

What time really adds value to your life, and the lives of those around you?

“An hour of planning can save you 10 hours of doing” – Dale Carnegie I once learned this the hard way by travelling four hours to discover I’d left something crucial back at work. Four hours travelling back, picked it up, and four hours there again.

This is an extreme example,but planning your work week on a Friday or Sunday night, or planning your next day’s tasks the night before can save a lot of time and aggravation.

I find just 10 minutes planning really sets me up for

Pareto’s Principle states that 80% of outcomes comes from 20% of effort. In other words, we can always find ways to be more efficient. If we can spend more time doing those 20% of really effective tasks, then we’ll get a lot more done.

It can also apply to our leisure and family or friends time too, we often get and give the most value in just 20% of the time, so spend more quality time doing what you love doing.

A 20 minute meal without phones is so much more satisfying and leads to deeper conversations than watching two hours of telly together, and probably spending most of it on our phones (I’m guilty of this one).

having a more successful day. Spending 10 minutes making sure all your tools and materials are organised and complete for the following day is useful too.

The Pomodoro Method is really useful when you’ve got a very long task to do.

You set a timer – usually about 25 minutes - and then blitz the task for that amount of time, take a quick break (if I want to) then blitz again. It’s amazing how good a regular alarm is at keeping you from drifting or faffing! Well, I do anyway. You can either use a phone

by Charlie Budd 30

timer, or there are Pomodoro apps as well.

BETTER BUSINESS Now you may not have a

what with trying to run two

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

businesses right now. It can be

– Mahatma Gandhi

problem with putting time aside for leisure, family or friends but I know I struggle with this,

easy to just work, work, work.

Book in learning time. Whatever age we are, we can

Putting time in our diaries to do

still learn, and humans get a lot of intellectual and

stuff we enjoy, especially if we

emotional satisfaction from learning new things -

have to book it and pay in

whether it’s work-based or leisure-based.

advance, is a great time to make

Learning new stuff helps us to grow,and keeps our

sure we’re doing stuff that

brains going for longer. Ask other decorators what

recharges the batteries.

they do to be more efficient too, whether it’s dust-extraction sanding, spraying, better brushes, Scrolling, scrolling, scrolling… If you find you’re spending too much time on

better techniques. There are always ways in which you can improve.

social media, then you can either set up time limits on your phone or switch off notifications.

A good rule of thumb is to ‘create before you consume’ - so before you start scrolling on social media, post something.

Not only is creating better for your brain than consuming, but it can help with your online relationships and marketing.

Clear communication.

So much time is wasted by people getting the wrong end of the stick, and it can cause conflict too.

Just imagine if a customer says to you at the end of the day “no, I wanted the ceiling blue and the walls white”... I know, unlikely, but you get the gist.

With really important emails and messages, I usually read them twice, and with face to face conversations I’ll check instructions by repeating back to people what they say, especially if it’s something that will take a lot of time.

It’s that old ‘measure twice cut once’ adage, it’s about making sure you’re doing the right thing.

The other useful phrase is ‘if you’re climbing a ladder, make sure it’s against the right wall’.

Want to learn more? Find Charlie at www.chinbadgermedia.co.uk

/chinbadgermedia

@chinbadgermedia

@ChinBadgerMedia

charlesbudduk 31

CASE STUDY

U

sed by members of the Royal family as a ‘weekend get away’ many years ago, Dart Decorators worked hard to bring the exterior of this elegant terraced property in Teignmouth back to it's former glory.

Regency Restoration The close proximity of the property to the English Channel (right) lead to a number of water ingress issues, such as cracked cills, which in turn caused this original plaster (below) to fail under the elements.

Right: After being stabilised and re-rendered this tired collapsed section was brought back to its original condition

This PDA Member firm undertook extensive remedial restorative works in addition to the complete redecoration of the property. This included a comprehensive fungicidal scrub, jet-wash, extensive masonry repairs, metal restoration to exposed railings, soffit repair work, fascia repair and replacement, and extensive cill repair work. Oliver Price from Dart Decorators explains what was involved...

This property is a fine example of the richly detailed Italianate style from the early 19th Century, contrasting with the more austere and earlier terraces in Den Crescent. Being situated around 100 metres from the Segmental arches with chamfered voussoirs and vermiculated keystones, these are fabulous windows with incredible detail, all brought back to life after weeks of cleaning and repair work, with assistance from www.joinerysolutionssw.co.uk

coast, we took our time to carefully clean and remove around 10 years of seaside debris and residue in order to prepare the substrate for repairs and decorating.

We had to unpick a multitude of badly carried out repairs to all areas, carefully replacing mouldings, architrave, fascia panels and soffits to keep the building water tight.

The masonry had suffered water ingress from cracked cills, which caused the original plaster to fail under the extreme elements. For the extensive masonry repairs we used a selection of Toupret products including Touprelith-F and Humi-Block as both offer excellent damp resistant

32

technology, to help this building last for many years to come.

CASE STUDY

Unpicking a multitude of badly carried out repairs meant carefully replacing mouldings, architrave, fascia panels and soffits to keep the building water tight. Fascia boards and mouldings restored to as new condition and painted with Sikkens Rubbol Primer and Rubbol Satura.

Dart Decorators are Members of the PDA based in Devon.

You can visit their website at www.dartdecorators.co.uk or call them on 07908 908 555

For all masonry work, we used Dulux Trade Weathershield Maximum Exposure, as it has better flexibility than regular masonry paint. It’s also been tested on lighthouses, so has excellent resistance to salt water exposure, protecting the building from future damage.

To prevent unwanted visitors getting into the eaves all gaps were sealed with new panels, primed using Dulux Trade Aluminium Primer to help them last for many years to come.

Fascia boards and mouldings were restored to as new condition and painted with Sikkens Rubbol Primer and Rubbol Satura for a great quality finish.

Metal railings were taken back to bare metal with an angle-grinder, then treated with red-oxide two coats of Hammerite for a durable finish.

Dart Decorators collaborated with SW Joinery Solutions to restore the original sash windows to their former glory, using traditional techniques but tastefully brought into the 21st Century. The dedicated team worked tirelessly for weeks to carefully repair and restore the frames with all new weather seals, cords and weights.

The final finishing touches were replacing the guttering and installing ‘hedgehogs’ on the top level to keep everything debris free and water tight from the top down.

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PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Nilfisk

AERO SAFETY 26-2H Dust Extractor @nilfiskuk

www.nilfisk.co.uk

When it comes to dust management, it’s always best to be at the top of your game – our health and well-being do not have a price tag!

Nilfisk is renowned around the world for manufacturing exceptionally good equipment. The latest addition to my kit is the 1500W, compact Aero Safety 26litre H-class with Bluetooth technology.

I find it lightweight at 8kg with a comfortable carry handle, the top of the machine has handy compartments for keeping small items organised, whilst the bottom has black non-marking wheels which glide effortlessly across the job site.

It is fitted with a certified H-class quality filter to protect from all types of nasty dust, both wet and dry. A durable PTFE membrane filter provides long life and an easier cleaning process. The double-sealed filter delivers better performance.

There are also significant improvements to the noise this machine makes when in use (61dB), including a slow start and stop. A 240V power take-off with protective dust cover is essential in the kind of environment I work in. The hose inlet benefits from a plug to seal off the port, using a chain to attach it to the machine's body for safekeeping when the hose is in use.

This machine has the latest technology that senses suction and lets you know by audio alerts if there is a reduction in air flow rate, instantly indicating to you to clean the filter. A big blue push and clean filter cleaning button is on the machine's top.

They have included a Bluetooth remote controller that can be attached to its red antistatic extractor hose. If paired with a battery-operated tool like a sander, chop saw, plunge saw etc, this will automatically turn on the extraction unit.

You can also manually turn on the unit using the Bluetooth switch, useful when vacuuming because the control is right next to your hand.

There is a complementary vacuum accessory tool set, all of which can be stored on the machine in a special swag box that attaches to the side of the machine. On the lower section of the machine, two docking ports are positioned to stow the tubular sections of the vacuum attachments or some of the accessories.

The 7.5m bright orange power cable means it is more visible, so it is less of a trip hazard, and a neat cable and hose management rubber side strap allows it to be tidy when transporting or simply stowing away when not in use.

Features & Benefits ‘ H class rated ‘ Bluetooth remote control ‘ Blower function ‘ Double sealed long life filter ‘ Quiet operation with slow start/stop ‘ Power take-off ‘ Vacuum accessories and storage caddy

tool TALK You can find Wayne on...

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Products independently tested and recommended by Award Winning Decorator, Wayne de Wet

@ToolTalk1

@ToolTalk1

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Win it all!

For your chance to win, send an

One of each item recommende d in this edition of Tooltalk are ava ilable to one lucky PDA Member!

email to tooltalk@the-decor ator.co.uk Well done to our most recent win ner, Peter Brownbill of PSB Decorators.

Axus Decor

Features & Benefits

Silk Point Ultra

‘ FSC® Birchwood wood handle with hanging hole

@axusdecor

www.axusdecor.com

‘ 12mm 15mm 20mm 25mm

Axus Decor has built a reputation and a brand renowned for

‘ 304 stainless steel ferrule

manufacturing quality decorating tools, brushes, and in fact, everything

‘ Laser cut grip unvarnished handle

a decorator needs. The fundamental rule of thumb they adopted initially

‘ Quality synthetic filaments

was to listen to the people who use the tools daily and then make products using this invaluable feedback.

As any decorator will tell you, brushes are an emotive subject, and everyone has their own requirement, likes and dislikes, but Axus Decor Silk Point Ultra is undoubtedly my favourite detail brush of the year.

These incredible detail brushes are well balanced and boast a one-piece tapered stepped brushed stainless steel round ferrule. It’s the detail brush range that’s got it all and the perfect sizes, too – 12mm, 15mm, 20mm, and 25mm.

Manufactured using FSC® certified unvarnished birchwood handles with a hanging hole plus laser cut grip detailing.

The brush is made with a quality hydrophobic and oil-repellant synthetic non-absorbent filament blend, suitable for all types of paint and are vapour brush storage box compatible.

The business end of the brush does not disappoint - imagine a sharp pencil. Carefully selected filaments of various lengths, firmness and softness are expertly blended to produce a round yet pointed detail brush.

The brush has a ‘memory’, as the filaments keep their shape after the heaviest of grafting. It holds a generous amount of paint, and glides effortlessly on the workpiece whilst keeping its shape.

Features & Benefits

Big Wipes

Van System @bigwipes

www.bigwipes.com

‘ Certified EN 14476 Antiviral and EN 1276 Antibacterial

‘ Heavy-duty wipes + refill

‘ Three wall mountable brackets

‘ Power spray

‘ One-handed wipe dispensing

‘ Resealable refill pouches

‘ Multi-surface wipes + refill

When it comes to clean hands and clean tools, there is only one brand of wipes

velcro straps, so they hold the product tightly and do not bounce about when

I reach for... Big Wipes. And there is nothing more frustrating than running out,

fitted to my van. They can also be fitted into bespoke van racking systems

so the solution is using the Van System, it holds so much Big Wipes swag!

designed to hold all the regular tubs and spray bottles.

Three Big Wipes branded brackets (The Cage) are suitable for the van,

Every eventuality is covered, with the combination of the different wipes

garage or workshop, with fixing holes for easy installation (screws not

included – A tub of 80 Heavy Duty Wipes, refill pack of 80 Heavy Duty Wipes, tub

supplied). They are made from tough,

of 80 Multi Surface Wipes and refill pack, plus a 1-litre bottle of Power Spray.

bright red polycarbonate with adjustable

The red top pack is perfect for cleaning hands as it features double-sided cloths, smooth one side, coarser on the other. The green top uses softer, biodegradable, absorbent cloths perfect for keeping my tool kit and surfaces clean.

The Power Spray is a big bonus as it contains the same cleaning fluid, which is biodegradable, sprayable via the trigger gun, allowing me to direct precisely where I need it for that concentrated clean. Great for floors, walls and even UPVC window frames.

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PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Premier 1

Blue Tiger 4 /2” Mini Roller Frame @premierpaintrollereurope

www.premierpaintroller.com

Regarding mini rollers, buying quality frames and sleeves is always best. Premier Paint Rollers manufacture a 41/2” mini roller with a large 3/4” (19mm) core.

At 12” long, this mini roller uses a heavy gauge metal, which certainly feels strong. The inner end cap has a fantastic design that grips the roller sleeve to stop it slipping off the frame. The threaded blue handle allows a roller pole to be attached using either bayonet or screw-in poles. I prefer bayonet as it's quick on and quick off.

A black soft grip area ensures both in-use comfort and

Features & Benefits

no slippage, with dedicated finger grips offering

‘ Multi-tooth metal sleeve grips

greater control. Large core 41/2” and 61/2”

‘ 41/2” width

wide sleeves are available, so you

‘ 4 /2” and 6 /2” sleeves

can have the best of both

‘ Soft grip handle

worlds depending on

‘ Bayonet and screw fittings

your work.

1

1

tool TALK PRODUCT O THE YEAR F

Zinsser

PermaWhite® @zinsseruk www.zinsseruk.com After visiting a Zinsser trade demo day at Brewers way back in 1996, this product

Features & Benefits ‘ Mould resistant ‘ Seven year guarantee ‘ Matt or satin ‘ Scrubbable ‘ Re-coat in two hours

has been my ‘go to’ mould-resistant paint ever since. I have used PermaWhite Satin in bathrooms and kitchens, mostly on

Sili Boys

Socket and Switch Covers @siliboys.uk

www.siliboys.com

ceilings but on walls too as it offers class 1 Wet Scrub rating (ISO 11998).

I don’t mind investing in something that will give value for

Back then, it was only available in white, but it can now be mixed to any RAL,

money and be of long-term use. With practical use, it’s a

NCS and BS colour if your local stockist have a suitable tinting machine.

product #gamechanger !

2

I generally get 10m coverage per litre, it’s usually touch dry in about 30

Sili Boys have created washable and re-useable protective black

mins, and I re-coat it after two hours. I always recommend that my clients keep

silicone covers, that fit over all single and double gang face plates.

the completed area free of steam for 24 hours and that the complete cure can

Loosen the face plate screws (always isolate the electric supply

take anywhere between a week and 10 days.

when doing this) to enable them to wrap behind, the covers are

Although it states self-priming, the first coat is the adhesion coat on previous

designed to fit snugly in place without any masking tape.

painted surfaces, plasterboard, flat paint, cement block work and concrete. For

They provide excellent protection from dust, debris and paint.

newly plastered surfaces, I always prime with Bulls Eye 1-2-3 plus first.

These are my ToolTalk products of the year – having purchased

Water-based PermaWhite will adhere to clean and cured oil-based paints and

a Pro-pack, I then added a

glossy paints without the need to sand. This is something you just have to trust,

Features & Benefits

Starter Pack and a bespoke

it’s never let me down in 27 years!

‘ Heavy duty black silicone

Sili Boys black systainer to

‘ Reusable and Washable

store them all in.

‘ Limited edition systainers available for storage

They come packaged exceptionally well in brown

‘ Various purchase options

cardboard boxes. Once

‘ Recyclable packaging

you’ve used them, you won’t want to use anything else!

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PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Made to last www.johnstonestrade.com/product/ultralast-matt Johnstone’s Trade has launched UltraLast Matt, a premium quality matt paint that helps keep high-footfall interiors looking their best for longer. The manufacturer’s longest lasting wall paint yet, UltraLast Matt, has been formulated with in-built stain resistance and Resilient Scuff Technology which helps to prevent the painted surface from the initial scuff marking. If painted surfaces do become marked, the matt coating can easily cleaned, withstanding more than 10,000 scrubs, which further helps to extend maintenance cycles.

Certified with BRE, Johnstone’s Trade UltraLast Matt paint is 99.9% VOC-free and comes with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) that attests to the product’s environmental impact. Available in 5 and 10-litre packs, tintable to the full Johnstone’s Trade colour range.

UP

tool

Keep up to date with what’s available for the modern decorator

Silk rounds www.axusdecor.com/stockists Axus Decor has revealed its long-awaited ultra-premium brush, Silk Touch Ultra, as part of its Mink series. Each brush has a highcapacity oval ferrule filled with a new generation of ‘world-class filaments’. These ultra filaments are firm enough to spread all types of coating, thick and thin, and undergo an advanced chemical treatment that produces ultra-soft tips for that allimportant streak-free finish. The treatment also texturises the tips to enhance paint pick-up whilst creating a network of fibres that retains paint, ready for controlled release with each brushstroke.

Shape retention is extraordinary; you can bend the filaments as you like to achieve precise brushstrokes.

Still, the brush will always return to its original form, wash after wash. The four variations, Silk Touch Ultra, Silk Cutter Ultra, Silk ShortCut Ultra and Silk Point Ultra, are

.co.uk www.brewers

off the shelf With more and more decorators entering the spray and dustless sanding market, Brewers are excited to offer a brand-new range of air scrubbers – the first major decorator’s merchant in the UK to do so! Dust in the air is a huge issue for tradespeople, MAXVAC’s range of air scrubbers are specifically designed to tackle this problem, creating a safer environment for people to work in. The MAXVAC Air Scrubbers are perfect for those who are spray painting, sanding, carpentry work, plastering and more. Air Scrubbers effectively eliminate unseen dust in working environments with innovative technology. The units are designed to be run 24/7 so can

38

be used while on the job and overnight whilst also being extremely energy efficient.

available now.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Handy little liners www.go-paint.com Go!Paint proudly unveiled its latest product at the P&D Show, the Kettle Liner. Specifically designed for standard 2.5-litre Go!Paint Paint Kettles, this revolutionary insert enhances the painting process for professionals. Visitors at the show embraced the new liner, recognising the numerous benefits. The Paint Kettles are commonly favored by true experts in the Netherlands and are often customised with a high-end paint brand and distributed by the brand. They are becoming more popular in the UK too, thanks to the professional looks and ease of use. Crafted from ultra-thin, 100% recycled PET, the Kettle Liner accommodates about half a litre, with ribbing along one side makes a separate roller grid obsolete, ensuring even paint distribution on a 4-inch roller for a flawless finish.

Excess paint flows back down into the liner, minimising the chance of paint flakes. After use, simply empty, let it dry,

Get into the Spirit of things

and reuse up to four times. Notably, there's no need to wash the liner or the Paint Kettle, reducing water pollution.

www.pioneerbrush.net The Spirit Renaissance Range from Pioneer Brush incorporate eco materials that combine elements of sustainability, recyclability, and biodegradability with Trade quality products. The aim of this range is to answer the need across industry in general to think ‘green’ and to apply existing eco technologies to our product lines, but without compromising on the quality demanded by our customers; a step in the right direction. The brushes have excellent paint pick-up, with handles made from bamboo composite and recycled paper packaging. Trays are made from recycled cardboard paper pulp with no chemicals needed in the processing, all 100% recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable. With insert trays made from recycled plastic.

Winter warmers www.makitauk.com In addition to powering the expanding line-up of cordless tools and accessories, Makita has introduced two new heated base layers to its range of job site apparel. Powered either with Makita’s 18V LXT or 12Vmax CXT battery, professionals can stay warm when working in cold, harsh job site conditions with the new DCX200 pullover and DCX201 half-zip heated base layer shirts. With four dedicated heat zones for optimum heat distribution and three heat settings to adjust to changing weather conditions, these new garments can provide continuous heat for up to 33 hours. Both base layers are made from elasticated fabric to allow unrestricted movement, are machine washable and have a simple switch on/off button that is easily accessible at the front.

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PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Hamilton Decorating Tools revealed their big news at this year’s National P&D Show.

A new look. A clear and concise range. And, more excitingly.... A revolutionary new brush!

The edge of Perfection www.hamiltondecoratingtools/yourperfectmatch Hamilton have revealed a brand-new look and vision for the brand that has been almost four years in the making. Involving a huge team of people and painstaking research, testing and development both in the lab, by hand, by paint manufacturers and by decorating professionals, Hamilton are confident they can provide the perfect decorating tool solutions that work with today’s evolving paint formulas.

products will be hindered, according to Hamilton, and they will not let that happen.

Paint has changed As paint technology continues to evolve, with burgeoning developments in hybrids, Hamilton decided it was time to take a long, hard look at the tools used to apply them.

Using formulas that you know and rely upon, Hamilton will also perfectly combine them with brand new technology to ensure products are transformed just enough to be the

Hamilton’s new CleanEdge™ filaments have been tested in laboratory conditions, by third parties, well-known UK paint manufacturers and, more importantly, in the hands of real users. Ultimately a synthetic brush to mimic the structure of natural bristle was developed, with the benefits of being easier to clean, with no need to break in.

products you need to work effectively with today’s paints.

Bye bye plastic As part of this ‘revamp’ Hamilton are also drastically reducing their amount of single-use plastic packaging, switching plastic clam packs to recyclable card, whilst also using FSC® Certified wood in their brush handles.

The new look has given the brand a makeover to offer three colours that visually represent their three ranges: For The Trade, Prestige and Perfection. Prestige soft-grip handles have also changed colour to keep in-line with this new look.

New technology Amongst all of this, the most notable, long-awaited

Which Perfection brush to choose?

achievement is the introduction of their CleanEdge™

MaxStroke™ offers longer, finer filaments for a flawless

technology. This brand-new filament will sit alongside the

finish with thinner paints, such as water-based paints and

™

well-established MaxStroke filament in the top level

low viscosity hybrids. CleanEdge™ uses shorter, stiffer

Perfection range.

filaments for accuracy and control with thicker or sticker ™

Below; CleanEdge™ (top) features shorter, stiffer filaments than MaxStroke™ (bottom).

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The Perfection CleanEdge brush selection will replace

paints, such as oil-based and high viscosity hybrids.

natural bristle completely. This may be a tough pill to

If you haven’t already tried Hamilton’s New CleanEdge™

swallow for hardened bristle lovers, however, the quality of

brush, make sure you get hold of one in-store. Plans have

this natural animal-borne bi-product is constantly declining.

been put in place to get these new-look products available

This decline means that the strive to deliver the best quality

nationwide from January onwards.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

The best of both worlds

Systainer3 Combi

What could be better than a Systainer? The clever combination of the Systainer³ and the Sortainer³. The new Systainer³ Combi allows you to transport tools and accessories in a single Systainer.

There is space at the top for transport-safe storage of power tools and hand tools, and the relevant accessories can be stowed away underneath. Everything is to hand, for better organisation and time saving at the workplace.

Sortainer

From a stationary workshop to the place of use,

3

Systainer³ makes daily work easier.

Clever organisation and time saving at the workplace. The

There is space for power tools and

new Festool Sortainer3 offers lots of space and provides a

hand tools at the top of the

perfect overview of accessories and small parts. And to

Systainer and you can stow away

make transport simple, Sortainer³ products can be

the relevant accessories in the

seamlessly integrated into the bott vario3 vehicle system.

drawer underneath.

From a stationary workshop to the place of use, Systainer³

The Systainer³ Combi allows

products improve mobility during everyday work. The same

you to transport machines and

is true of the new Sortainer³... All accessories, small parts,

accessories in a simple, compact

nails, dowels and screws or tools are clearly organised and

way, with everything in one place.

therefore at your fingertips.

For even greater mobility, the Systainer³ Combi can also be

Thanks to the practical front drawers, the content is also accessible at all times,

seamlessly integrated into bott vario3 vehicle system.

even when Systainers are stacked. In combination with the Systainer3 system, this

The lower drawer can be divided entirely according to

results in a flexible storage system with many possible combinations for use in

your requirements using partitions, just like the standalone

workshops and on the go.

Festool Sortainer3.

The individual drawers can be subdivided with partitions to meet your specific requirements. The separately available plastic containers in various sizes offer even more flexibility, so you always stay on top of things, even small parts.

In addition, the new Sortainer3 fits the entire Festool Systainer system, making it easy to connect and transport.

/FestoolGB

42

@festool_uk

www.festool.co.uk

The new and improved Valspar Trade range – it’s a real game changer.

Expertly formulated, our most advanced water-based formulations perform where it counts, with tests showing Valspar Trade rivals the leading trade brands for ease of application, coverage and durability.

We’re disrupting the status quo.

FORMULATED FOR THE PERFECT FINISH

valspartrade.co.uk

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Inspiring endless possibilities Johnstone’s Trade have announced the PPG Voice of Colour 2024 Colour of the Year as Limitless (PPG1091-3), a fresh, warm shade that is a recognisable primary colour with the confidence of a neutral. This modern honey beige offers excellent design and styling possibilities for customers in both residential and commercial interiors.

Along with the 2024 Colour of the Year, the PPG and Johnstone’s Trade colour experts have created the 2024 colour trends palette of more than 40 complementary hues, organised in three distinct palettes, or Volumes.

Volume I features soft, grounded colours, Volume II includes earthy greens, florals, and energising blues, and Volume III is a beautiful mix of playful and dramatic colours.

Limitless reflects a shift in consumer preferences towards warmer, less saturated colours and is both sophisticated and subdued. This is a colour that can be used to create balance to a colour scheme, especially when used with one or more of the other 2024 Volume I, II, III trend palette colours.

Because Limitless pairs equally well with warm and cool tones, PPG colour experts recommend using it anywhere and everywhere to give your customers a space the re-design it deserves. Within interior’s, it is ideal for walls and accent areas. For maximum impact, it’s recommend for unconventional places, such as both ceilings and walls for top-to-bottom blending of all surfaces.

The 2024 Voice of Colour, Colour of the Year, and the colour trends are selected by PPG’s global colour team, experts from across all of PPG’s business units including Architectural Coatings, Automotive, Aerospace and Consumer Goods, to provide a well-rounded view on the cultural and social shifts which then influence the final colour forecast.

/johnstonestradepaints 44

www.johnstonestrade.com/colour

ONE CAN STICKS TO ALMOST ANY SUBSTRATE

CLADDING

GUTTERING

UPVC WINDOWS

DOORS

HARDWOOD

METAL FENCING

INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR DURABILITY For more information, please email: enquiries@bradite.com @Braditepaints www.bradite.com

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES The quality of both the roller sleeve and the frame you choose can make a real difference to the overall finish you are able to achieve – as well as your productivity and comfort. Here, Andy Cummins, Senior Product Manager at Purdy, looks at some of the attributes to look out for when selecting a roller.

Choosing a quality roller for a quality finish Roller Frame Comfort is key when you’re working with your roller all day. A quality roller frame will be designed to be used all day with a lightweight, comfy grip to reduce fatigue, and an ergonomic rubberised handle to stop your hand slipping, even when it gets sweaty.

The frame should also be designed to avoid sleeve ‘walk-off’, for example some brands have a ridged design that allows you to press-fit your roller sleeve, keeping it in place all day.

Keep in mind a roller frame’s compatibility with extension poles. Purdy roller frames are compatible with traditional threaded connections as well as Purdy’s quick connect attachment system.

A high-quality roller frame should also be light and easy to keep pristine. An open cage design allows for quick and easy cleaning and also helps to keep the weight of the roller down, reducing the likelihood of fatigue.

Roller Sleeve There’s nothing worse than a roller dropping lint on a fresh coat of paint. A great roller sleeve will use a strong epoxy, to bond the fabric to the roller core, in combination with a high-quality fabric. This will prevent the roller from shedding lint and ensure you don’t waste time picking out stray fibres or repainting a surface.

To guarantee longevity, and value for money, you should also make sure that you choose a roller sleeve made of highquality materials.

A solvent resistant core, such as polypropylene, won’t react with your paint and will keep its shape throughout the roller’s life.

Similarly, dense, high-quality fabric will make sure that the sleeve keeps delivering a smooth finish time after time; for example, Purdy’s Marathon roller sleeve uses a knitted nylon and polyester blend that will deliver the same finish even after 40 hours of continuous use.

/purdybrushesuk 46

www.purdy.co.uk

For more tips on maximising efficiency with your rollers, check out Purdy’s Inspiring the Next Generation video series with YouTuber and handyman Justin Bailly – https://tinyurl.com/PurdyNextGen

For SURIHVVLRQDO SDLQWHUV. Surface preparation from Festool.

Festool range of professional power tools for painters includes specifically coordinated systems with accessories and high-quality abrasives for even greater efficiency. Discover how you can work in a dust-free environment achieving high quality surface finish results.

Find your perfect sanding system from Festool.

Warranty all-inclusive

Discover our products: www.festool.co.uk/products/surface-preparation

SCAN ME